Grant to help youngsters 'experience' great outdoors

GAINESVILLE - The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has awarded $50,000 to a program in Georgia providing youngsters more chances to experience the great outdoors.

The grant to the Children Living Energetically Advancing Nature (C.L.E.A.N.) Challenge project will provide children more opportunities to experience the great outdoors, learn about nature, and build a lasting commitment to conservation and land stewardship.

"The value of expanding our programs for children must not be underestimated," said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. "Young people are tomorrow?s stewards of our public lands, and we have a duty to help them develop a lasting connection and passion for conservation of America?s great outdoors."

Through the support of the More Kids in the Woods funding and the Greening Youth Foundation (GYF), the C.L.E.A.N. project will provide up to 200 students hands-on outdoor education experiences at the Chattahoochee Nature Center, Fernbank Forest, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Park Service Site, and the Chattahoochee National Forest. The Foundation (GYF) incorporates a number of outdoor educational experiences coupled with service projects, such as trail restoration, river cleanups, and invasive plant removal. After these transformative experiences provided through the C.L.E.A.N. Initiative and its National Park Service and Forest Service, high school graduates and young adults will be equipped to serve as the next generation of global environmental leaders.

"We are truly thankful for our partners who are receiving funding today," said Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests' Forest Supervisor George Bain. "These projects that get our nation?s kids outdoors are aimed at increasing access and inclusion so that urban and rural kids alike have opportunities to be active and learn about our great outdoors."

The mission of the Greening Youth Foundation is to provide interactive programs for underserved young people with the intent participants develop a deeper relationship with nature, resulting in healthier individuals, communities and environments. These efforts act to engage, organize and empower children as dedicated environmental stewards.